UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili found himself slated for an unexpected immediate rematch against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316, a booking influenced partly by the perceived lack of other definitive top contenders at the time. However, this situation is expected to change significantly following Saturday night`s outcomes.
Since the announcement of O`Malley receiving an instant rematch (despite the original text`s potentially confusing phrasing about O`Malley`s previous fight), new potential challengers have begun to solidify their positions. A prominent name is long-standing contender Cory Sandhagen, who recently secured a victory over Deiveson Figueiredo in May. Given Sandhagen`s consistent ranking near title contention and the fact that he has never faced Dvalishvili before, he appears to be a leading candidate for the next title shot.
“Right now, the clear contender looks like it’s Cory Sandhagen, especially because we never fought each other,” Dvalishvili commented during UFC 316 media day. “He has a good style, a good fighter. He beat a lot of good guys in this division.”
“I’m sure MMA fans want to see this fight. But most important is what the UFC wants. I am champion now and whoever the UFC will give me, I will fight the next contender, the next best guy in the division.”
Sandhagen boasts a 4-1 record in his last five appearances, with his only recent defeat coming by decision against Umar Nurmagomedov, an opponent Dvalishvili has already overcome. His impressive resume and the lack of a previous encounter with Dvalishvili strongly position him for a title opportunity, provided the Georgian champion successfully defends his belt at UFC 316.
Another fighter who could rapidly climb the ranks on Saturday is former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix, set to make his highly anticipated UFC debut.
Mix is scheduled to compete against Mario Bautista in a pivotal 135-pound matchup. Both fighters enter the bout in excellent form, holding a combined record of 14-0 across their last 14 fights (suggesting both are on seven-fight winning streaks). The winner is expected to make a significant leap forward in the competitive bantamweight division.
Mix also shares a relationship with Dvalishvili, as the two bantamweights have spent considerable time training together over recent years. While Mix was previously competing in a different organization, avoiding any potential conflict, he is now signed with the UFC and pursuing the same title currently held by Dvalishvili.
Despite their status as teammates and friends, Dvalishvili affirmed that this situation would not resemble his past dynamic with Aljamain Sterling, where they chose not to fight each other despite both being top contenders.
“Patchy Mix is a great fighter,” Dvalishvili stated. “Yes, we’re training a lot [together]. He’s one of the best and I respect him. I’m happy for him he’s in the UFC right now. I wish him all the best. It’s good for the UFC, good for the division we have another top fighter in this division. It’s good. He told me he was coming to the UFC and we talked about this and we are cool, we are friends, we are training together.”
“It’s not the same as it was between me and Aljo. If the time comes, we will fight each other. It’s nothing personal. He’s fighting for his family, I’m fighting for my family and my team. That’s all good. I wish him good luck in his fight and hopefully I’m going to win this fight against Sean O’Malley and we’ll see from there.”
Another name mentioned in discussions about Dvalishvili`s potential future opponents was current flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, who has expressed interest in a possible move up to the bantamweight division in the future.
Currently, Pantoja has his own challenge ahead at UFC 317, facing Kai-Kara France in the co-main event. However, should the Brazilian champion decide to transition to the bantamweight division, Dvalishvili, as the reigning titleholder, expressed his readiness to welcome the challenge.
“Yes, he’s a respectful champion,” Dvalishvili said regarding a potential fight with Pantoja. “If he moves up and the UFC lets him fight for the belt, no problem. I’m a champion now. I’ll fight whoever the UFC choose for me to fight.”
Before considering future opponents, Dvalishvili`s immediate focus remains on successfully navigating his second encounter with Sean O’Malley. He expressed confidence and readiness for the upcoming bout, anticipating facing a fully healthy and focused opponent this time around.
“He should be 70 percent better because he quit a lot of stuff,” Dvalishvili remarked about O`Malley`s preparation. “He quit social media, he quit smoking weed and I’m sure he was more focused on wrestling, getting better knockout power. I want to test all of that. I’m ready for the best version of Sean O’Malley.”
Wesley Dunham 
Marcus Blakely